Chapter II, Section IV, Adhikarana I

Adhikarana summary: The organs are produced from Brahman

Brahma-Sutra 2.4.1: Sanskrit text and English translation.

तथा प्राणाः ॥ १ ॥

tathā prāṇāḥ || 1 ||

tathā—Likewise; prāṇāḥ—the organs.

1. Likewise the organs (are produced from Brahman).

In the scriptures, in those sections which treat of the origin of things, we do not find the origination of the organs etc. mentioned. On the other hand, there are texts like, “This was indeed non-existence in the beginning. They say: What was nonexistence in the beginning? Those Rishis . . . . Who are those Rishis ? The Pranas (organs) are indeed the Rishis” (Sat. Br. 6. 1. 1. 1), which show that the organs are eternal and not created.

This Sutra refutes that view and says that the organs etc. are produced just like ether etc. from Brahman. The word ‘likewise’ refers not to the immediately preceding topic of the last section, wliich is the plurality of souls, but to the creation of ether etc. spoken of in the last section. Sruti texts directly declare their origination. “From that (Self) are produced the vital force, mind, and ail the organs” (Mu. 2. 1. 3). Therefore the senses are created.

 

Brahma-Sutra 2.4.2: Sanskrit text and English translation.

गौण्यसंभवात् ॥ २ ॥

gauṇyasaṃbhavāt || 2 ||

gauṇi—Secondary senses; asaṃbhavāt—being impossible.

2. On account of the impossibility (of explaining the origination in a) secondary sense.

Since there are texts like the one quoted from the Sat. Br. which speak of the existence of the organs before creation, why not explain the texts which describe their creation m a secondary sense ? This Sutra refutes it, for a secondary sense would lead to the abandonment of the general assertion, “By the knowledge of one, everything else is known.” Therefore they are produced from Brahman. The reference to the existence of the Pranas (organs) before creation in Sat. Br. is concerning Hiranya-garbha, which is not resolved in the partial dissolution of the world, though all other effects are resolved. Even Hiranyagarbha is resolved, however, in complete dissolution (Mahapralaya).

 

Brahma-Sutra 2.4.3: Sanskrit text and English translation.

तत्प्राक्श्रुतेश्च ॥ ३ ॥

tatprākśruteśca || 3 ||

tat—That; prāk—first; śruteḥ—being mentioned; ca—and.

3. And because that (the verb denoting origin) is mentioned first (in connection with the Pranas).

The text referred to is : “From that (Self) are produced the vital force, mind and all the organs, ether, air, water, fire, and earth” (Mu, 2. 1. 3). Here the word ‘produced’ occurs at the very beginning of the things enumerated, and if it is interpreted in its primary sense with respect to ether etc., it is all the more to be so interpreted with respect to the vital force, mind, and organs mentioned earlier. Thus a further reason is given in this Sutra to show that the organs etc. have originated from Brahman.

 

Brahma-Sutra 2.4.4: Sanskrit text and English translation.

तत्पूर्वकत्वाद्वाचः ॥ ४ ॥

tatpūrvakatvādvācaḥ || 4 ||

vācaḥ—Of the organ of speech (etc.); tatpūrvakatvāt—being preceded by them (the lements).

4.    On account of the pre-existence of that (viz. thd elements) (before) the organ of speech (etc.).

“For truly, my boy, mind consists of earth, the vital force of water, the vocal organ of fire” (Chh. 6. 5. 4). This text clearly shows that the organs etc. are products of the elements, which in their turn spring from Brahman. Hence they too are products of Brahman. Being products of the elements, they are not separately mentioned in texts dealing with the origin of things.